BioBus Bike Blog

Hey everyone, it’s Memorial Day weekend, and you know what that means. It’s driving season – time to get gouged at the gas pump. We’re getting close to 4 bucks a gallon over here (lucky for me, I run on recycled veggie oil, which is still free). Industry execs say they don’t know what’s going on, while analysts predict a 6 dollar gallon before the year is up. So while you’re stewing in your hoopty because you’ve Shelled (ha!) out an Exxorbitant (ha-ha!) amount on gas to sit still on a snarled and overheated expressway, en route to Aunt Gladys’ cookout, remember: there is another way!

Get on your bike! Use your legs for fuel and feel the breeze in your face. You don’t have to be Lance Armstrong to ride a bike, you just have to have a bike and a desire to have a little fun. And, in case you missed it, here’s a little taste of the fun bikes bring.

The pictures were taken at Redbones 13th Annual Bike Benefit. There were a ton of cool bikers and cool bikes, some great food and some great prizes. All the bike characters were out and having a blast talking about bikes and showing off their new rides. Some people even won new rides! And what will those lucky winners do with their new bikes?

The same thing you should do – get ready to ride in the Bikes Not Bombs Bike-A-Thon. It’s coming soon – June 8th – but you can start training now. The Bike-A-Thon’s bigger and better this year, with the Green Roots festival for an after party, tons of riders, tons of cool speakers and three ride lengths to choose from. Of course, all the money you raise (see how many sponsors you can get) goes to a very worthy cause – helping Bikes Not Bombs teach people how to use bikes in order to promote peace and stewardship of the Earth, across Boston and the rest of the world.

When you’re done with that ride it’s time to start thinking about the 270 mile ride from Boston to New York to raise money for research to fight ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). It’s called the Tri State Trek, and it’s not for the novice rider. It is for a very worthy cause, however, and it looks like a very fun 3 day ride. It kicks off July 18th and so you should start thinking about it (and start training). More on the Trek soon…

So there you have it folks. The answer to all your gas related problems is right here: bikes! Ride your bike! Pull it out of the basement, get it tuned up, and get going. You’ll feel better, your wallet will feel better and you might even make a little difference in the world. Peace.

It’s not easy being the Urban AdvenTours BioBus. I mean, sure, I’m colorful, sure I’m a green machine (I run mainly on veggie oil) and yes, I offer a smooth ride. But here’s the thing…I can’t ride a bike. I know what you’re thinking. Why would a truck want to ride a bike? Well, if I could ride a bike, I could participate in some great events going on around town. Here are three things I’d definitely do on my bike…

• I’d ride over to the 12th annual Bike Party and Benefit at Redbone’s. If I had two legs and a rear end that fit on a saddle I would pedal over to this outdoor BBQ festival and have my bike parked by one of Redbone’s excellent bike valets. I’d then check out some fellow bicyclists and their rides, get a plate of BBQ and a cold beer and listen to some great music. I’d probably also buy a few raffle tickets, and I know I’d win a sweet prize. But instead I’ll be parked somewhere nearby, envying you humans with your bicycles to ride on, mouths to eat with, ears to hear with. Anyway, I’ll be there, In Davis Sq., on May 19th, (new date due to weather) from 5 to 9, so come on down and show a truck some love, why doncha?
• I would also register NOW to ride in the Bikes Not Bombs Bike-a-Thon, Sunday June 8th. You lucky humans will be able to choose between a 15 mile, 25 mile or 62 mile ride. Riders will get sponsors and raise money for BNB, helping them in their amazing bicycle mission. Of course, it will be fun, too. The Green Roots Festival will be going down at the same time, and there’ll be food, music, workshops, fun things for kids. Sheesh…you humans don’t know how good you got it.
• And, of course, Monday, the 12th of May, is the start of Bay State Bike Week, and thousands of Bay Staters will take the Commuter Challenge to give their cars a rest and ride their bikes to work. Of course, yours truly, the BioBus, will get no rest. I will be available for events for companies and organizations looking to encourage their employees and members to take the challenge. It’s noble work, I know, so I’ll be driving all over (using no gas, remember, just veggie oil) delivering bikes and helmets and spreading the bicycle love all over…ah, maybe in my next life I’ll be a bike.

Well, I gotta go, I’ve got an appointment with my mechanic (the old transmission’s acting up again), so take care, keep riding, and give me a holler when you see me on the streets.

Look at the big brain on me. It’s not all good genes – every once in a while I look at the Dictionary.com word of the day. I do it for my own personal edification. You know, it’s just a kind of melioration of my mind. Anyway, I checked it out, and today’s word is contrite, as in, feeling or expressing grief and regret for sins or offenses. That little definition got me to thinking. I become meditative, deliberative, pensive and downright ruminative. I quickly realized I was feeling a little contrite myself. Why, you ask? Well, here we go:

1. I feel contrite that I haven’t told enough people about the 12th annual Redbones Bike Party and Benefit. If you love bikes, BBQ, beer and good music, and you want to support bicyclists in and around New England, then you now have plans for Monday the 19th of May (this is a new date). This bash is an outdoor bicycle fest, replete with great music, great raffle prizes (you could win an amazing ANT cargo bike), great beer and fantastic food. It’s all going down Monday, May 19 from 5 to 9 in Davis Square in Somerville. I suggest you join us down there.
2. I have to admit folks, I also feel contrite that I have not been reading the news lately. Our favorite Boston bicycle tour company is getting some press. If I’d been paying more attention, I would be cognizant of the fact that the story of the founding of Urban AdvenTours was featured recently in The Day, of New London, CT. Read about founder Andrew Prescott’s vision for a bike friendly Boston here.
3. You know what else I am contrite about? I have not been contributing my knowledge of local bicycle routes to serve the common good. I have been anything but munificent with my expertise. All that is going to change soon, after I add what I know about great (and not so great) bike routes in and around the city of Boston. Help out all of us bicyclists by adding to the map.

So, there, I no longer feel contrite, penitent, repentant or compunctious. In fact, I feel a sense of alleviation. Maybe, even, assuagement. Writing this entry has been, well…palliative.